01Use the AutoRecover feature

  • Open Microsoft Word on your computer.
  • Click on the 'File' tab at the top-left corner of the screen.
  • Select 'Open' from the dropdown menu.
  • In the Open dialog box, navigate to the location where you last saved your Word document.
  • Look for files with the .asd extension in the folder. These are AutoRecover files.
  • Select the AutoRecover file that corresponds to the unsaved document you want to recover.
  • Click on the 'Open' button to restore the document.

02Check the Temporary Files folder

  • Press the 'Windows Key + R' on your keyboard to open the 'Run' dialog box.
  • Type '%temp%' (without quotes) and press 'Enter'.
  • This will open the Temporary Files folder.
  • Look for files that start with 'Word' or have the .tmp extension.
  • Sort the files by 'Date Modified' to find the most recent files.
  • Open each file using Microsoft Word to check if it's the unsaved document you're looking for.
  • If you find the correct file, save it to your desired location.

03Check the Document Recovery pane

  • Open Microsoft Word on your computer.
  • Click on the 'File' tab at the top-left corner of the screen.
  • Select 'Info' from the dropdown menu.
  • In the 'Manage Document' section, click on 'Recover Unsaved Documents'.
  • This will open the Document Recovery pane.
  • Look for the unsaved document in the pane.
  • If you find the document, click on it to open and save it.

Conclusion

Losing an unsaved Word document can be distressing, but with the methods mentioned in this article, you have a good chance of recovering your work. Remember to regularly save your documents to avoid such situations in the future.

MethodsDetails
AutoRecover featureUse the built-in AutoRecover feature in Microsoft Word to recover unsaved documents.
Temporary Files folderCheck the Temporary Files folder for recently modified Word files that might be your unsaved document.
Document Recovery paneAccess the Document Recovery pane in Microsoft Word to find and save unsaved documents.
recover unsaved Word document
Word document recovery
unsaved Word document